Top for vehicles and the like



May 20- 1924. v I F. K. LEWIS Tor' FOR VEHECLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan.20 1919 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRED x. LEWIS, or 'AsHTABULA, OHIO.

TOP FO'R VEHICLES AND THE LIKE,

Application filed January 20, 1919. Serial No. 271,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FRED K. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Tops for Vehicles and the like,of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present improvements relate more particularly to tops of theso-called one man type, such as are now extensively used on automobiles.In this type of top, the extreme forward, or outrigger bow as it iscalled, is carried by means of swinging arms pivotally attached to themain bow at some distance from the point of pivotal attachment of thelatter to the vehicle body, so that such arms, with such'outrigger bow,

extend substantially horizontally in theopen position of the top, andtogether constitute what may be termed an articulated auxiliary bow. Toeach of these arms, or the rear portions of such articulated auxiliarybow, there is in turn usually attached an intermediate or supplementalhow, the function of which is to support the stretch of cover materialbetween the main bow and the outrigger bow proper.

Where, in tops of the construction iridi: cated, it is desired to use asingle rearwardly inclining main bow to support the entire top throughthe outrigger structure, doing away with the necessity of a second mainbow, it is desirable to provide another intermediate or supplemental bowbetween the outrigger bow and such single main.

bow. The object of the present invention, accordingly, is to providesuch an additional supplemental bow in a structure of the kind in hand,together with suitable connections between the same and the main bow, asalso with the other supplemental bow and the outrigger bow, so thatthese several bows will not only be supported in proper rela tion whenthe top is in open or extended position, but so that they will be movedin unison in the folding and unfolding of the to T0 the accomplishmentof the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of themeans hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in theclaims, the annexed drawing and the 01 lowing description setting. forthin detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,

such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of variousmechanical forms in whiph the principle of the invention may be use Insaid annexed drawing:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of a top supporting structure embodyingmy present improvements, such top being shown as mounted on anautomobile body or tonneau of conventional form; Fig. 2 is a similarside elevational view, but showing such supporting structure inpartially folded con dition; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of'a detailviewed in the opposite directionfrom that illustrated in, Fig. 1. p i

It is of course a matter, of indifference whether the top is used onautomobile, motor-boat or otherwise, and, depending upon itslongitudinal extent, a smaller or larger number of bows, in addition tothe out rigger, structure of present interest, may be utilized. It willalso be understood that the term ,bow is used: herein inclusively todesignate not merely thewooden bow proper, but also the metallic socketscarrying the same, these parts when regarded in side elee I vationconstituting the equivalent of the so:

called sticks, as they are called, in the old wood structure. It isaccordingly a matter of convenience to refer to the parts in thesingular, as though the structure all lay in a single vertical plane,since the parts do actually liein such a plane.

As previouslyindicated, the top covering 1 is designed to be entirelysupported through an appropriate outrigger structure from a singlemainhow 2. The latter, which is of substantial construction, in viewof theweight it is thus designedto carry, is pivotally supported upon orattached to the body at the point 3 in the usual manner, so that it maybe laid down and carried in a substantially horizontal plane when thetop is not in use. Normally, in the extended or open condition of thetop, said mainbow 2 inclines rearwardly at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees to the horizontal,

being heldfrom rising higher by the top covering or rather by specialstraps v(not shown), or extensions of the longitudinal strainers, which,as is well known, are used to connect the bows together and providesupporting means for the top covering intermediately between said bows.For the purpose in hand such straps or strainers may be regarded as apart of the covering material.

The outrigger structure comprises a main articulated auxiliary bow, or,as it is sometimes called, outrigger bow 6, the latter term referringmore particularly to the outer portion or bow 7 proper, which is securedto the main bow 2 by means of an arm 8 (one on each side of course)pivotally attached to said main bow and to the rear end of suchoutrigger bow, and so constituting the inner portionof said articulatedauxiliary bow 6. The point of attachment of this arm to the main bow ispreferably in line with, or just above, the sideedge of the cover, so asto be hidden by the latter, and the joint 9 between said arm andthebutrigger bow is a rule or lock joint disposed so as to preventfurther bending of the arm in question,

' whose angular positions in the open condition of the top are soadjusted, by means presently to be described, as to support the topcovering 1 at suitably spaced intervals between main how 2 and outriggerbow 7.

The rearmost supplemental bow 11 is provided with an extension or shortarm 12 that is connected, through the medium of a link 13, with the mainbow 2 at a point somewhat" below the point of attachment of the side arm8 to said main bow. The joint 14 between said link 13 and extension 12of supplemental bow 11 is a lock joint "50 formed as toconstitute arigid connection of the parts in question under the weight of the arms 8and parts carried thereby when the top is extended. Upon breaking thejoint 14, however, the arms8 can be swung downwardly against the mainbow 2, and

the link 13 and supplemental bow 11" at the same time brought intoparallel relation yond the joint 9 between the same and the swinging arm8, said links being directly pivotally connected together and alsooperatively connected with said supplemental bow 10. Two links 15 and 16are shown as comprising the connection in the construction illustrated,the first named link extending from the supplemental bow 10 to thepreviously indicated point on the outrigger The result of the foregoingconstruction is that when joint 14 is broken, joint 9 willsimultaneously be broken, and the two supplemental bows will be foldedup in unison as the outrigger bow 7 is swung back in parallel relationwith the main bow 2, the reverse operation occurring when the top isbeing unfolded or opened. The structure, in open condition of the top,presents an unusually rigid and stable support, yet, owing to therelative fewness of parts and their disposition, the structure folds upin very compact form when it is desired to have the top out of the way.Operation, either in opening or closing, issimple, rendering the topcapable of manipulation by one person.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or .the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of amain bow; a two-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portionpivotally attached to' said 'main ow andadapted to project horizontallytherefrom in the open position of the top; a supplemental bow pivotallyattached to the rear portion of said auxiliary bow and having anextension, said supplemental bow inclining forwardly in such open topposition; a link connecting such extension-with said main bow below thepoint of attachmentof said auxiliary bow thereto; means adapted toprevent further bending of the joint between such extension and saidlink in the open position of the top; asecond supplemental bow pivotallyattached to the rear portion of said auxiliary bow forwardly of saidfirst-named supplemental bow and inclining in the same direction; and aplurality of links interconnecting said auxiliary bow and said twosupplemental bows, the points of attachmentof said links being such asto permit relative oscillation thereof, whereby said bows may be broughtinto substantially parallel relation'when the topis folded.

2. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main. bow; atwo-part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to therear portion of said auxiliary bow and having an extension; a linkconnecting such extension with said main bow below ther bending of thejoint between such extension and said link in the open position of thetop; a second supplemental bow pivotally attached to the rear portion ofsaid auxiliary bow forwardly of said first-named supplemental bow; andtwo links, one connecting one of said supplemental bows with the outerportion of said auxiliary bow and the other connecting such first linkwith the other supplemental bow.

3. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a main bow; atwo part articulated auxiliary bow having its rear portion pivotallyattached to said main bow; a supplemental bow pivotally attached to therear portion of said auxiliary bow and having an extension; a linkconnecting such extension with said main bow below the point ofattachment of said auxiliary bow thereto, the joint between suchextension and said link being formed to lock in open position of top; asecond supplemental bow pivo-tally attached to the rear portion of saidauxiliary bow forwardly of said first-named supplemental bow; and twolinks, one connecting one of said supplemental bows with the outerportion of said auxiliary bow and the other connecting such first linkwith the other supplemental bow.

4. In a top for vehicles and the like, the combination of a single mainbow arranged to incline rearwardly in of the top; a two-part articu bowhaving its rear portion piv tached to said main bow and adapprojecthorizontally therefrom in the ope position of the top; a supplementalbow carried by the rear portion of said auxiliary bow and having anextension, said supplemental bow inclining forwardly in such open topposition; a link connecting such extension with said main bow below thepoint of attachment of said auxiliary bow thereto, said link lying atapproximately right angles to said main bow when the top is open; meansadapted to prevent further bending of the joint between such extensionand said link in the open position of the top; a second supplemental bowpivotally attached to the rear portion of said auxiliary bow forwardlyof said first-named supplemental bow and inclining in the samedirection; and a plurality of links interconnecting said auxiliary bowand said two supplemental bows, the points of attachment of said linksbeing such as to permit relative oscillation thereof, whereb said bowsmay be brought into substantial y parallel relation, when the top isfolded.

Signed by me, this 18th day of January, 00

FRED K. LEWIS.

